Explanations of Institutional aggression

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Introduction (AO1)· Institutional aggression (E.g. Jails and care homes) are mainly associated with hostile aggression.· This is emotive aggression caused by the need to vent anger or frustrations.…read more

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The Importation model (AO1) · This is a dispositional model suggesting that prisoners `import' their social histories and traits into prison, and this influences their behaviour. · They believe that the same behaviour they see in prison is the same as what people display in normal society. · Irwin and Cressey recognised the importance of prisoner subcultures and identified 3 categories:1. Criminal subculture: These inmates follow the norms they developed through their career in crime E.g. Not betraying each other and trusting fellow inmates.2. Convict subculture: These inmates were raised in the prison system who seek positions of power and influence. They are more likely to turn to aggression and are influenced by deprivation prior to imprisonment.3. Conventional subculture: These inmates tend to be `one time offenders' who were not part of a subculture before entering prison. They reject other subcultures and identify more with prison staff.These subcultures can be used to demonstrate how an individual's beliefs and values can influence the group they will join in prison, and ascertain whether they will be aggressive or not.…read more

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Evaluation for Importation model (AO2) Research to support from Mills et al ­ surveyed 202 inmates newly admitted to a Canadian prison ­ using alcohol dependence scale, they found higher levels of aggression were associated with alcohol ­ Findings support idea that people bring own personal problems with them into prison ­ leads to aggression.This research can be criticised for culture bias ­ carried out in Canada ­ difficult to generalise resultsto explain institutional aggression across all cultures ­ In some places such as Saudi Arabia, it is illegalto drink ­ this study can be used to explain prison violence there ­ Study only offers partial supportfor importation model and does not explain universal characteristics of institutional aggressionacross all cultures.Self report method ­ could have been social desirability where prisoners lie about previousalcohol abuse to display themselves in best possible light and blame their violence on alcoholand not themselves ­ lowers internal validity of study ­ does not offer sufficient support formodel leading to aggression.More research to support comes from Kate and Janus ­ found that greater periods ofunemployment, lower level of education and serious criminal records correlated with greaterlikelihood of aggression whilst imprisoned ­ Supports convict subcultures where deprivation prior toimprisonment links with aggression.Correlation analysis ­ can't establish cause and effect between criminal's background and aggression ­can't account for extraneous variables such as too much testosterone ­ can't directly link aggression tobackgrounds.…read more

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The Deprivation model (AO1) · This is a situational model suggesting that prison aggression originates due to daily deprivations of prison life which were such that prisoners could not form healthy relationships with people outside of prison. · Sykes suggests the following deprivations in prison cause aggression:1. Deprivation of liberty: Makes prisoners feel like they cannot be trusted to live in the free world.2. Deprivation of autonomy: Prisoners have few powers and make few decisions on a daily basis, and makes them feel helpless.3. Deprivation of goods and services: Prisoners are deprived from many goods and services normally available, bringing a feeling of failure.4. Deprivation of heterosexual relationships: For heterosexual men, female companionship plays an important part of their self-identity, so the prevalence of homosexual men brings a feeling of anxiety.5. Deprivation of security: Many prisoners often fear for their own security a other prisoners are seen as a threat.These daily deprivations can cause prisoners to become frustrated leading to aggression.…read more

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Evaluation for Deprivation model (AO2) Research to support comes from Bloomber and Lucken ­ reported that prisoners need permission to eat, sleep, shower and interact ­ leads to frustration ­ affects prisoner's ability to maintain relationships with family and friends ­ supports idea that deprivation of liberty can lead to institutional aggression. High in ecological validity ­ conducted in a prison ­ can generalise to other similar settings where aggression taken place ­ high external validity ­ provides strong evidence for model leading to aggression. Further research to support comes from Cox ­ examined the effects of prison overcrowding on aggression ­ Found aggression had decreased by 60% when population decreased by 30% - supports deprivation leads to aggression. Has practical applications ­ shows overcrowding increases aggression in prisons ­ can be used to ensure safety of other prisoners and guards by reducing population size to ensure overcrowding does not occur ­ an be argued to be an important area of applied society as it supports model leading to aggression ­ can benefit society. Contradicting evidence found by Light ­ found many prison assaults had unexplained motives ­ difficult to conduct research and draw firm conclusions ­ Found 25% of prison assaults had no apparent reason ­ difficult to get conclusive research findings on real life aggression to support the model.…read more